Name: Turkey Tetrazzini
Yield: 6

This Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe is a creamy, cheesy pasta bake loaded with herbs, making it the reliable way to turn leftover turkey into a post-holiday crowd-pleaser.

author’s note

Ultimate Leftover Glow-Up Turkey Tetrazzini!

I’ll admit it: sometimes I’m more excited for the Thanksgiving leftovers than the feast itself.

Who’s with me? Think about it – Turkey Sliders, Turkey Salad, Wraps, or a big loaded Turkey Sandwich.

But the real star? This Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe. It’s become a post-Thanksgiving must-have in our house. It’s such a satisfying way to use up leftover turkey, especially when you have guests staying over for the holidays. People absolutely love it!

A collection of all the ingredients used in the recipe, including cheese, onion, peas, butter, noodles, and more.

Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient	Quick Note
Spaghetti	Break in half before cooking to make it easier to mix and serve
Unsalted butter	Gives you full control over the salt level
Baby Bella mushrooms + Yellow onion	Other mushroom varieties work too, dice the onions
All-purpose flour	Helps thicken the sauce
Low-sodium chicken broth	Keeps the dish from getting too salty
Half and Half	Use milk for lighter or heavy cream for richer
Seasonings	Fresh or frozen herbs work in place of dried
Sharp Cheddar cheese	Freshly grated melts smoother
Leftover turkey	reliable way to use leftovers; chicken also works
Frozen peas	Add straight from the freezer

Sautéing mushrooms and onions in a pan until they become tender.

How To Make Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Cook Pasta: Boil spaghetti in water until just shy of tender, drain it, and keep nearby.
Cook Veggies: Melt butter in a large pot, sauté the mushrooms, then add the onion.
Creamy Sauce: mix in the flour and cook for one min. Slowly pour in the half and half and broth while whisking. Then season and mix in half the cheese.
Combine: Add cooked pasta, turkey, and peas into the sauce. Stir together.
Assemble and Bake: move the mixture to a baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese (and skippable buttered panko) and bake until hot, bubbly, and golden.

Adding flour to the mushrooms and half and half, stirring until the mixture thickens.

What To Serve With Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

A crisp garden salad with vinaigrette.
Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
Garlic bread or dinner rolls to sop up extra sauce!
Cranberry sauce for a nice sweetness.
Roasted vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes.
A creamy Caesar salad with crunchy croutons.

Incorporating the remaining seasonings and other ingredients into the Turkey Tetrazzini until well mixed.

Variations

Switch Things Up

Try a Different Meat: Use cooked chicken, ham, or shrimp instead of turkey.
Make it Meat-Free: Skip the meat and add more mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini.
Change the Cheese: Swap cheddar for mozzarella, Parmesan, or Gruyère.
Use Another Pasta: Try penne, fettuccine, or bowtie instead of spaghetti.
Add Some Spice: Use red pepper flakes or cayenne to make it spicy.

Transferring the fully mixed ingredients to a pan and adding cheese and toasted panko on top before baking.

Storage

Make Ahead And Leftover Tips

Prep early: Get everything ready ahead of time. Store parts separately and mix them together before baking.
Storage: Keep in the fridge for up to four days or freeze for three months. Let it thaw in the fridge.
Reheat: Cover and warm in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or heat in the microwave until warm.